But please, Coach Smith, do NOT stop talking. Rapids fans know you’re a great quote, with a unique long-view perspective. Keep telling it like it is.

And after Stevenage held Hotspur to a 0-0 draw[1] Sunday, forcing a deciding match at Tottenham’s home White Hart Lane, Smith could have plenty to say. He remains undefeated as Borough’s coach, since taking the job 25 days ago.

“We’ve got every chance. We’ll go there with a lot of energy and belief. “They’ve got a very tough schedule coming up. They’ve got Arsenal and Manchester United, with us plugged in somewhere in the middle.”

From the moment Harry Redknapp arrived at Lamex Stadium to the applause of Stevenage supporters and high fives from a man trapped inside a giant bear’s outfit, this was a day with an old-fashioned FA Cup feel about it.

The circus was in town and a giant big top festooned with stars and stripes towered over one end of the compact stadium Stevenage hoped would be home to an FA Cup fifth round shock against Tottenham.

The next line of the article noted that Smith had coaching experience with the Colorado Rapids of MLS, but you needed to hang in until one-third of the way through the story before you were told that the Rapids, under Smith, actually won MLS Cup in 2010.

In ranking Smith’s time at Arsenal as a scout above managerial experience in Major League Soccer, the news story encapsulates an attitude that is still very prevalent in the United Kingdom and, in particular, England toward MLS.

But if you pause for a moment you quickly realize the absurdity of this kind of condescension — certainly when it comes to English-born managers.

The Stevenage-Tottenham game time will be announced later. The winner sees Bolton in the next round.

Find Nick Groke on Twitter @NickGroke[7]
And reach him at ngroke@denverpost.com